Human remains found last week in the Oswego River were positively identified as those of a woman missing since 1996. As Iris St. Meran reports, Carol Wood's family addressed the media.
OSWEGO, N.Y. -- Human remains found last week in the Oswego River were positively identified as those of Carol Wood, who disappeared in 1996, the Oswego City Police Department said Wednesday in a release.
A red 1993 Toyota Corolla was found in the river Friday, with human remains inside the vehicle. Earlier in the week, police said they believed the car belonged to Wood, who went missing the night of Aug. 4, 1996.
Her family, who has been notified, scheduled a news conference for Wednesday afternoon. At the spot where Wood was found, family members addressed the media, and those who never forgot Wood.
Red and white roses were thrown into the river in honor of Wood, who was remembered as a kind person with a bubbly personality.
A number of Wood's family members traveled to be here today including her sisters, older brother and mother. They are not calling today's latest development closure but a piece to a bigger puzzle.
"This discovery marked one of the saddest days of our lives, the first being the day she went missing."Alison Grunberg, Carol Wood's Sister
"It's been a really, really long 18 years of [not] knowing where my sister was and not knowing what happened to her,"said Philip Pepe, Carol Wood's brother.
They could get closer to finding those answers.
"This case file is extensive. It's been worked on since day one and like I said there wasn't really a whole lot of actual factual ledes that we had and this is very big for us," said Charles Tonkin, the Oswego Police captain.
"I don't know how to feel. Should I be happy they found her? Should I be sad I don't have any more hope," said Louise Pepe, Carol Wood's mother.
Even in all their grief the family thanked everyone for not forgetting Carol and for the investigators who have been involved. They said they are keeping an open mind about what happened to her and will look into anything that needs to be followed.
Anyone with information is asked to call 315-342-8130 or 315-342-8131, or e-mail crimewatch@oswegony.org.